We Moved!

THE McMULLEN FAMILY CONSERVATION CENTER OPENS, MARKING NEW CHAPTER IN GTRLC HISTORY

When the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy formed thirty-two years ago, it was hard to imagine what we could accomplish over the next three decades.

Initially, with longtime Executive Director Glen Chown as its only staff member–led by a board of committed volunteers passionate about land protection–the nascent conservancy gradually expanded to keep pace with the area’s increasing thirst for development.

In those early days, the team operated out of a small house on Third Street in Traverse City before moving into the office space above Oleson’s Food Store on North Long Lake Road in 1999. The relocation marked a milestone; anticipating the region’s attractiveness would continue driving development, the Conservancy invested in the people and tools necessary to protect our most critical lands and waters.

“We became a family in there,” Chown reflected. “We really came of age in that office.”

Two transformational campaigns took place over those 20-plus years, substantially contributing to the nearly 47,000 acres of land and 153 miles of shoreline protected, and over 121 miles of trail built since 1991. These tremendous accomplishments wouldn’t have been possible without the combined efforts of the Conservancy’s generous supporters, dedicated staff, proactive landowners, hard-working volunteers, partners, and other community members who share our vision for a brighter and more resilient future.

Today, at a time when enormous development pressure threatens to outpace the protection of the very natural features that make this region so attractive, we have reached a new milestone; this past January, our team began operating out of the McMullen Family Conservation Center at Mitchell Creek Meadows: The Don and Jerry Oleson Nature Preserve.

We are grateful for all who have played a role in protecting our beloved lands and for their commitment to facing the challenges ahead. And we are thrilled to work alongside our family of supporters and friends to ensure that opportunities to protect the region’s critical lands aren’t lost.

“Honestly, I have been at the helm for nearly 32 years as executive director of the Land Conservancy, and I have never been more excited,” Chown exclaimed. “The facility is just an amazing, collective accomplishment, and we are indeed very fortunate to embark upon this adventure together.”

We have always dreamed of a place where staff, volunteers and the greater community can connect with our mission, each other, and their role in stewarding the land–where visitors feel inspired by our work and understand how and why we do it.

Located in Traverse City, surrounded by schools and neighborhoods–and in the heart of an impaired watershed critical to the quality of our drinking water–the collection of facilities at Mitchell Creek Meadows is a place where people can join together to build a more resilient, engaged, and proactive community.

Guests will be able to come here to connect with our mission and learn about the role each of us can play in caring for our critical lands and waters. Soon, like-minded individuals and organizations can gather at our indoor and outdoor event space to share ideas and learn about various environmental topics affecting northern Michigan. The natural setting sets a beautiful stage for learning, teamwork, and collaboration.

The sustainably designed buildings showcase practices becoming increasingly necessary with the changing climate. Outfitted with green features, it demonstrates how a large facility can be climate-neutral while preserving the natural elements of the surrounding habitat.

Close to half of the facilities' total square footage was repurposed from existing buildings, with renovations and new construction entirely funded by a group of private donors. The facility not only reduces our carbon footprint but also significantly saves energy costs over the long term–meaning more dollars for our core land protection and stewardship mission.

Thank you

The extraordinary support for the Campaign for Generations affirmed that this mission is more essential and relevant than ever before–and since its conclusion, the pace of land protection has continued at a rapid clip. Yet as more land is protected, the need for stewardship work has also increased, including building trails, removing invasive species, planting native trees and shrubs, and more.

Having a centralized location where our staff and volunteers can learn from each other allows us to build on these efforts with greater efficiency and expertise, and face the challenges before us. At the Bob and Pauline Young Family Stewardship Workshop, individuals can participate in training workshops and hands-on experiences that will help us build better trails, take on more habitat restoration projects, and better equip our ambassadors with knowledge and skills in every corner of our five-county service area.

Next year, volunteers will also aid in restoring nature preserves throughout our service area and propagating native plants, including rare and sensitive species, at our onsite greenhouse. These vital projects will have long-lasting benefits, like restoring critical habitats for declining bird species, providing pollinator sources for native insects and improving habitat structure that supports wildlife.

Though we are eager for your visit, we ask for your patience as we are still settling in and unpacking this spring. However, we invite you to enjoy the trails at Mitchell Creek Meadows: The Don and Jerry Oleson Nature Preserve, a stunning property featuring abundant wildlife, diverse ecosystems,

Conservancy's

The Don and Jerry Oleson Nature Preserve. Your support will impact our region for generations to come.

Perry and Mary

Catherine Adams

Tripp and Chi Huei Amdur

John and Rebecca Bercini

Les & Anne

Biederman Foundation

Paul and Amanda Brink

Harry and Betsy Calcutt

Robert and Lucinda Clement

Daniel and Linda Cline

Don and Marylou Coe

Rob and Diane Collier

John and Lynn Collins

Martin and Valerie Cotanche

Joyce Delamarter

Elizabeth G. and Stanley F. Dole

Herbert H. & Grace A. Dow Foundation

Debra Edson

Rich and Susan Erwin

Becky Ewing, Rotary

Charities of Traverse City

Frey Foundation

David and Claudia Fry

Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation

Wendy and Paul Greeney

Myrna Hitchman

Jim and Diana Huckle

Dennis and Janice Hudson

Brian and Jennifer Jaffe

Jennifer Jay and Evan Johnstone

Gregory and Audrey Landsfeld

Thomas and Alison Larabel

Roger and Ann Looyenga

Brad Lyman and several streams critical to the Mitchell Creek watershed. To be completed this spring, the nearly three-quarter-mile, universally accessible Looyenga Family Trail, made possible by Roger and Ann Looyenga in honor of their children and grandchildren, includes sensitively-designed boardwalk sections to protect fragile wetland habitats and several opportunities for viewing nature. As GTRLC staff, partners, and volunteers continue restoration work at the property, guests of all ages and abilities can observe the former golf course’s fairways transform into thriving, natural ecosystems.

To learn more about, including how you can become involved, visit conservationcenter.gtrlc.org/.

We look forward to seeing many of our supporters and friends at a very special Preservation Celebration on July 15 – the first held at the McMullen Family Conservation Center and its official grand opening.

Stay tuned for more information about this significant occasion.

Robert and Nancy Marshall

Chip and Sarah May

Susan McCraven and Robert Reider

Thomas and Deborah McMullen

Andrew R. and Janet F. Miller Foundation

Robert and Joyce Mims

Northern Tamarack Foundation

Susan and Tom Palmer

Gail Parry and Norman Bell

John D and Susan K Paul Family Endowment

Kate Pearson and Steve Cruzen

Royce Ragland and Kenneth Bloem

Nate Richardson

Steven and Linda Rogers

Kevin and Lisa Russell

Alan, Erin, Rowan, and Fianna Schug

Gregory Seman and Tracey McVicar

Evan Smith and Cynthia Anderson

Ann and Al Taylor

Chip Visci and Marty Claus

Neal Wankoff

Margaret Ward

John Robert Williams and Terrie Taylor Community Foundation –Ronald and Martha Yocum Family Fund

Robert and Pauline Young

John and Marylou Zaloudek

Pat Zigarmi